CimbriaTelestackViganTBA GroupPort of StocktonBühler GmbH
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • Geneva Dry
  • Bühler GmbH
  • Van Aalst
  • Sailors Society
  • Vigan

Singapore still leading maritime city

Singapore still leading maritime city

(Posted on 15/01/22)

The 2022 edition of the Leading Maritime Cities (LMC) report has been launched at an event hosted by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), providing fresh insights into which global hubs offer the best infrastructure, technology, finance, and world-class talent, to help the maritime community connect and prosper.    

There have been many dramatic developments since the last edition of the LMC report was published in 2019. For one, we are still living with the pandemic. Two years of fluctuating restrictions have caused severe trade and travel upsets. Extreme weather events have made us all more acutely aware of the climate crisis, another major driver of change. Shipowners, charterers, cargo owners and lenders are gearing up for a decarbonized future, with rapid adoption of zero-carbon fuels expected over the next decade. Ongoing digitalization, including ports and the supply chain, will drive efficiency in support of this transition.

“Maritime cities and clusters are generating unique strategies to cope with these global transformations. They will play a leading role in the green shift, with new business models that drive the transition,” says DNV Maritime CEO Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen.

The LMC report is compiled in cooperation between classification society DNV and Menon Economics. As before, it benchmarks each maritime city based on five key pillars – Shipping, Maritime Finance & Law, Maritime Technology, Ports & Logistics and Attractiveness & Competitiveness.

Singapore’s strong performance across the board sees it retain its number 1 spot overall. “Singapore holds the top slot for Attractiveness & Competitiveness while also scooping the Maritime Technology title, thanks to the city-state’s unrelenting focus on digital transformation. Singapore gives way to Athens and Shanghai in Shipping and Ports & Logistics respectively, and losing some ground in Maritime Finance & Law,” notes Dr Shahrin Osman, Regional Head of Maritime Advisory at DNV and the report’s co-author.

Two European cities feature in the top three as well. “Rotterdam’s 2nd place demonstrates that it’s a maritime city on the rise. Although only 10th in Shipping, the Dutch hub scores well overall and particularly in Ports & Logistics and Attractiveness & Competitiveness. London is also among the top contenders, from 5th to 3rd place overall, however it has lost out its previous top slot in Maritime Finance & Law to New York,” says Dr Shahrin Osman.

Fourth and 5th place overall go to Asian counterparts Shanghai followed by all-rounder Tokyo.

“The 2022 analysis uses some new and more comprehensive objective and subjective indicators, as well as data sources, for each pillar. This facilitates more refined benchmarking of the relative performance of each city,” explains Menon partner Dr Erik W Jakobsen, who is the co-author of the report

Subjective indicators reveal the perceptions and assessments of 280 invited business executives – mostly shipowners and managers – from around the world. Looking five years ahead, they predict that Singapore will remain number 1, with Shanghai coming in 2nd. London, Oslo and Rotterdam are seen as leading the field in Europe, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi competing hard in the Middle East, India and Africa region. Dubai is predicted to grab 6th place overall by 2027.

The experts see Singapore, Oslo, Shanghai and Copenhagen as best prepared for digital transformation, while Oslo tops the list for sustainable technologies and solutions for the oceans, followed by Singapore and Copenhagen.

Latest News

Unprecedented insight into connectivity and wellness at sea

(Posted on 08/10/24)

Unique data is being used to create a series of ‘snapshots’ into the state of the maritime... Read more


Fleet Management Limited appoints Chief Executive Officer

(Posted on 07/10/24)

Fleet Management Limited, a part of The Caravel Group Limited, has announced the appointment of Captain... Read more


Caribbean states join together to call for fuel levy

(Posted on 01/10/24)

Caribbean states have joined forces to ensure the views of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are... Read more


Columbia eyes Turkish Shipping for growth

(Posted on 01/10/24)

The Turkish shipping market is one of the world’s most forward thinking when it comes to digitalisation... Read more


Metis joins RightShip’s Zero Harm Innovation Partners Programme

(Posted on 01/10/24)

Metis has joined the RightShip Zero Harm Innovation Partners Programme. This partnership, which includes... Read more


INTERCARGO calls for simplicity in shipping decarbonisation measures

(Posted on 25/09/24)

INTERCARGO, the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, has reaffirmed its commitment to... Read more


WISTA International counts down to milestone anniversary event

(Posted on 25/09/24)

The Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International) AGM and Conference... Read more


INTERCARGO proposals call on IMO to review Carbon Intensity Indicator

(Posted on 19/09/24)

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has submitted proposals to the International... Read more


AtoB@C Shipping takes delivery of Aquamar

(Posted on 19/09/24)

AtoB@C Shipping, a subsidiary of ESL Shipping, has on 17th September taken delivery of Aquamar, the... Read more


Lloyd's Register commissioned research reveals rapid rise of AI

(Posted on 19/09/24)

In the past 12 months, the maritime AI market has seen an explosive expansion, nearly tripling in size... Read more


Sailors SocietyTMS Awards 2023Geneva DryVan AalstTOC AmericasPort of South Louisiana
  • Telestack
  • TOC Americas
  • Port of Stockton
  • TBA Group

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping